Does auto insurance generally follow the driver or the car?

Auto insurance generally follows the car, meaning that when a vehicle is insured, the coverage applies to that specific vehicle regardless of who is driving it. This principle is based on the idea that the car represents a certain level of risk to the insurance company.

Many policies extend coverage to anyone who has permission to drive the insured vehicle, which underscores the importance of the car's insurance status rather than the specific driver at any given time. In practice, this means that if a friend or family member drives your insured vehicle, they are covered under your policy, assuming they have your consent.

While there are aspects of auto insurance that take individual drivers into account—like factors that influence premiums—when determining liability and coverage, the vehicle is the primary focus. Such a framework helps ensure that insured vehicles have a safety net for any driver, as long as their use falls under the terms of the policy.

The other options address varying aspects of auto insurance, but the overarching principle that the policy is tied to the vehicle provides clarity on how insurance generally operates in these contexts.